Signal attachment for air-brake feed-valves



1 v. LAMBETH. SIGNAL ATTACHMEIQIT FOR AIR BRAKE FEED VALVES;

"APPLIJCATVIQN FILED No.23. 192'). 1 ,380,220;

I "I 71mm F 49m 1/. LmM z,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 31.1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- E. V. LAMBETH.

SIGNAL ATTACHMENT FOR AIR BRAKE FE'ED VALVES.

APPUCAIION FILED DEC.28, I920- Patented May 3L 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

34 w lz mazh INVENTOR ATTORNEY EDGAR V. LAMBETH, OF HOT SPRINGS,ARKANSAS.

SIGNAL ATTAGHMEN T FOR AIR-BRAKE FEED-VALVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed December 28, 1920. Serial No. 433,618.

T 0 all w from it may concern Be it known that I, Enenn V. LAMBETH, acitizen of the United States, residing at Hot Springs, in the county ofGarland and State oi Arkansas, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Signal Attachments for Air-Brake Feed-Valves, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to air brake systems, particularly to signalingdevice in association therewith, and has for its object the provision ofa signaling device designed for association with the feed valve of anair brake system, this signaling device being located within the cab ofthe locomotive and apprising the engineer both by audible and visiblesignals of the condition in the brake line, that is if air leaks areexisting.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character inwhich the visible gage and audible whistle which constitute thesignaling devices are actuated by pressure from the main reservoirpassing through the interior of the feed valve, the valve being formedwith a passage or port leading to the signaling device and covered anduncovered by the piston of the valve whereby the actuation of thesignaling devices will be entirely automatic.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this characterwhich will be simple and inexpensive in attachment, highly ellicient inuse, positive in action, durable in service, and a general improvementin the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in View, the inventionconsists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing my signaling devices inassociation with the feed valve, the latter being in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the feed valve and showing thearrangement of my passageway therethrough,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view at right angles to Fig. 2, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown a feed valve Aof a well known type Which includes a valve body 2, a pipe bracket 3,cap nut 5, piston 6,

supply valve 7 having a spring 8 associated therewith, a piston spring 9having a top 10. The numeral 12 designates the reg ulating valve whichhas associated'therewith a spring 13 engaging against a nut 14. Thenumeral 15 designates the spring box at one end of which is located adiaphragm ring 16 with which is associated a. diaphragm 17 carrying aspindle 18 surrounded by a regulating spring 19 fitting within the hubof an adjusting hand wheel 20, this hub being screwed into the box 15and being turnable in either direction whereby to vary the pressure ofthe spring 19. From this description it will be seen that the feed valveconsists of two sets of parts, the supply and the regulating. The supplyparts which control the flow of air through the valve consist of thesupply valve 7 and its spring 8; the supply valve piston 6 and itsspring 9. The regulating parts consist of the regulating valve 12,.regulating valve spring 13, diaphragm 17, diaphragm spindle l8,regulating spring 19 and hand wheel 20.

The numeral 21 designates the air line and 22 designates the feed valvepipe. The numeral 23 designates the filler block interposed between thepipe bracket 3 and the valve body 2. All these parts are old and wellknown and their operation is readily understood by one skilled in theart.

In carrying out my invention I provide a member 25 shaped to fit betweenthe body 2 and the filler block 23 and this member is formed with holes26 for the passage of the studs which hold the body and filler block tothe bracket 3,- and is also provided with ports 27 which register withthe ports already existing in the body and filler block. At one end thismember 25 is enlarged, as shown at 28, and internally threaded forengagement therewithin of a pipe 29 which may be extended any necessarydistance and Which leads into the locomotive cab. Within the cab thepipe 29 is connected with a pressure gage 30 of conventional pattern andis connected with a branch pipe 31 carrying a whistle 32 and havinginterposed therein a choker 38.

In order to connect the pipe 29 with the internal mechanism of the feedvalve I pro vide the member 25 with a small passage 34 which leads fromthe bore of the enlarged end 28 to a port 35 at the central portion ofthe member 25. Formed in the body 2 is a horizontally extending passage36 registering with the port and leading at its end into the'verticalpassage 37 which has its upper end plugged, as shown. The lower end ofthe passage 37 leads into the horizontal passage 38 which has its outerend plugged, as shown, and leading from the passage 38 is a passage 39extending downwardly and terminating in a port 40 within the pistonchamber, as clearly shown. This port tapers at one end, as clearly shownin one'of the detailed views, and is covered or closed by the piston 6when the feed valve is closed.

In the operation of the device it will be seen that when the feed valveis opened to a greater or less extent pressure from the main reservoirentering the piston chamber will pass through the passages 39, 38, 37,36, port 35, passage 34:, and pipe 29 to the gage 30 and whistle 32,thereby giving a visible and audible signal, and it will be observedthat the degree of movement of the indicator of the gage will apprise anexperienced operator of whatever variations or fluctuations there are inthe system.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will beapparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and consequentlyinexpensive signaling device which may be readily associated with thefeed valve of an air brake system and which will efiiciently perform allthe functions for which it is intended, the device being furthermoreabsolutely automatic in its action.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it

vis of course to be understood that I reserve at one end, a pipeconnected with said socket and carrying a pressure gage and a whistlelocated at a remote point with respect to the valve, said member beingformed with a passage leading into said socket and leading out through aport, and a valve being formed with a passage communicating at one endwith said port and leading at its other end into the port formed in thewall of the valve piston chamber, the last named port being covered anduncovered by the piston in its movement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDGAR V, LAMBETH.

